Ohio board OKs student restraint, seclusion policy

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Ohio Board of Education has approved a policy on how educators seclude and physically restrain students in schools.

The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/RYS0NV ) reports the rules in effect beginning next school year allow for students to be physically restrained or put in seclusion rooms only if they're a danger to themselves or others. The plan is meant to ensure those tactics aren't used for a child's punishment or for the staff's convenience.

The board voted 12-4 to adopt the policy Tuesday. Previously, there was no such policy, and the Ohio Department of Education didn't oversee how seclusion rooms were used.

The plan had drawn criticism from schools that feared being overburdened with training, testing and paperwork. Parents and advocates of special-needs children argued the policy could help protect youngsters.